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Rating: Prisoners of Love: A Smattering of Scintillating Senescent Songs 1985-2003. This is the title of the new CD by Yo La Tengo, which, as one can understand, is not a studio album but rather a double compilation of their best songs after 18 years of work and an equally extensive discography.
The band, originally from New Jersey, always far from big clamors, has been a reference point in the American indie-rock scene on par with great bands like Pavement, though always remaining in the background compared to more celebrated bands. This group has traversed and indelibly marked the period between the eighties and nineties, always bringing new energy to their work: in fact, it is difficult to find a work in their discography that falls below a certain standard.
During the nineties, while bands like Nirvana (just to name one) quickly gained the approval of the general public with a handful of records, Yo La Tengo, as usual, worked behind the scenes, leaving an indelible mark this decade as well with their psychedelic yet sweet sounds.
Clearly influenced by the Velvet Underground, Yo La Tengo has managed to mix noise, melody, and psychedelia, creating a genre all their own. This is evident when listening to these two collections: a whirlwind of noise-rock songs, psych-rock tracks, and splendid ballads flow together, demonstrating in this last instance a great propensity for composing uniquely sweet songs. There are many gems, and I would like to mention a few: Little Eyes, Did I Tell You, Autumn Sweater, Stockholm Syndrome, Sugar Cube, Tears Are In Your Eyes, Season Of The Shark, for goodness' sake, I can't stop.....
A CD that I recommend to everyone, especially because all their records are not easily found in Italy, so having such a comprehensive collection at hand is always convenient. Fans will surely be happy, while newcomers will have the chance to approach new sounds and discover a great band.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Sugarcube (03:22)
Whatever you want from me, whatever you want I'll do
Try to squeeze a drop of blood from a sugarcube
Try to be more assured, try to be more right there
Try to be less uptight, try to be more aware
Whatever you want from me, is what I want to do for you
Sweeter than a drop of blood from a sugarcube
And though I like to act the part of being tough
I crumble like a sugarcube for you
Whatever you want from me, whatever you want I'll do
I will try
03 Barnaby, Hardly Working (04:36)
For the moment slipped right through him
Combed his hair, combed his hair
Knew the feeling of contentment
The actors' actor
The actors' actor
Smiled a smile uncomprehending
I took his time, took his time
Wore a hat, so he'd impress her
They took a ride
They took a ride
As I could wait for hours
I could wait and never fall down
Never fall down
Never fall down
He is down beside the river
He is down beside the river
He is down beside the river
He is down beside the river
05 Stockholm Syndrome (02:53)
What's the matter, why don't you answer
What's the matter with me
Cause it's so hard to be
Free and easy, we'll disappear completely
Hardly as I've known it's glad
You're heart is broken, and the doors are open
As you're hoping to be
There's brighter places to see
Hands need warming, early in the morning
Hardly as I've known a surprise
No, don't warn me I know it's wrong
But I swear it won't take long
And I know, you know it makes me sigh
I do believe in love
Another season, but the same old feelings
Another reason to be
I'm tired of aching, summer's what you make it
But I'll believe what I want to believe
06 Our Way to Fall (04:20)
I remember a summer's day
I remember walking up to you
I remember my face turned red
I remember staring at my feet
I remember before we met
I remember sitting next to you
I remember pretending I wasn't looking
So try and try even if it lasts an hour
with all our might try and make it ours
cause we're on our way we're on our way
I remember your old guitar
I remember I can't explain
I remember the way it looked around your neck
and I remember the day it broke
I remember the song you sang
I remember the way you look tonight
I remember the way you made me feel
we'll try and try even if it lasts an hour
with all our might we'll try and make it ours
cause we're on our way we're on our way
to fall in love.
You'll try and try even if it lasts an hour
With all our might try and make it ours
cause we're on our way to fall in love.
yeah we're on our way to fall in love.
we're on our way to fall in love.
we're on our way to fall in love.
07 From a Motel 6 (04:11)
you shouldn't hide but you always do
cause even when you're gone, I can see right through
you want disconnection
you want me there enough for two
pull a woollen blanket across my eyes
dream a quiet place for us to fight
oh no, your heart is broken
don't you think that's a little trite?
I climb where I can see
you're close but I won't reach
blank stare at the tv
CNN's on channel 3
in the passing lane on 1 and 9
stuck in sad, car stuck in drive
oh no, your heart is broken
well, you can have what's left of mine
I climb where I can see
you're close but I won't reach
blank stare at the TV
the howling II's on channel 3
oh, I drift off to sleep
while the snow falls on the screen
09 Tom Courtenay (03:32)
Julie Christie, the rumors are true
As the pages turn, my eyes are glued
To the movie star and his sordid life
Mr. Ex and his old-suffering wife
I spent so much time dreaming about Eleanor Bron
In my room with the curtains drawn
See her in the arms of Paul
Say it, I can say no more
As the music swells somehow stronger from adversity
Our hero finds his inner peace
So now I'm looking for a lucky charm
With a needle hanging out of its arm
As time goes by I know it's gonna happen
I know it's going away
Gonna take its toll, gonna take its toll
Gonna take my time
And I'm thinking about the way things are
And I'm thinking about the way things were
Thinking about Eleanor Bron
And I'm thinking about a lucky charm
And I'm thinking about the needle
Oh, I'm thinking about the needle
And I'm thinking about..
13 Did I Tell You (03:28)
Did I tell you of the dark lonely road
I was counting my steps as I made my way home
Days of nothing but time on your hands, weighing on me
Can't deny it, undecided
Whether to count what I felt against what I could say
I try not to wonder, or tell you that I'm not willing to wait
'Cause deep in my heart I'm willing, heart's still willing
Brain's impatient, my heart's still willing to wait.
Our love is so important to me
Starts wherever you land, walks right over to me
Days of nothing but time in between, I'll be asleep
So unwary or uncaring
I try not to be part of that, well, that's easy to say
I try not to wonder, or tell you that I'm not willing to wait
'Cause deep in my heart I'm willing, heart's still willing
Brain's impatient, my heart's still willing to wait.
There's a moment to discover no one can take all the blame
and it's finally clear.
I try not to wonder, or tell you that I'm not willing to wait
'Cause deep in my heart I'm willing, heart's still willing
Brain's impatient, my heart's still willing to wait,
willing to wait, willing to wait
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